An Action Packed L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival!

I don’t get to go to film festivals regularly (Never been to Sundance, Telluride, Tribeca, Cannes etc. etc.) except for this one.

I’ve been going to this fest for the last several years. I even had the honor of having my student film screened here back in 2008!

This year I noticed there were several films that fall into, well, if I have one genre that I obsess over the most…it’s the martial arts genre.

I know what your thinking..”Justin, aren’t you suppose to support the films that showcase Asians in genres OTHER then the ones where they kick and punch?” I know, and I do, but man I just have a weakness for some good martial arts battles.

Hell, my student film was kind of my compromise to please both sides of my filmmaking goals; martial arts action AND a comedy that showcases two asian american people in which they don’t have an identity crisis( a very common theme in most asian american films).

BUT, I’m not here to talk about a silly student film that’s 3 years old, I’m here to talk about what we got THIS year.

Theres two new films I’ve been wanting to check out, and TWO classics staring a master that needs no introduction.

So, first one up is an action film from Vietnam….

Stars Johnny Tri Nguyen and Ngo Thanh Van previously worked on the very entertaining film The Rebel (which was the closing night film in the 2007 LA Asian Pacific Film Fest) this new one looks a little more in the vein of darker Hong Kong actioneers.

The crazy choreography and stunts looks promising as I’m just expecting a fun, gritty action flick.

Since Vietnam got the Urban action taken care, let’s go to Hong Kong for the epic period action.

This trailer doesn’t have any subtitles so I will give you a quick rundown.

The film is called Bodyguards and Assassins is about a group of civilians who guard a revolutionary from a gang of …well, assassins. But as the trailer will show you, these are not some ordinary civilians…

If you know your current Hong Kong cinema, this film is pretty much an Oceans 11 sized cast of some well-known actors.

The big battle in the city streets looks massive and just plain cool.

BUT wait that’s not all…

YES! YES! YES!

Celebrating Bruce Lee’s 70th birthday they will show two classic Lee films!

The Chinese Connection will be a FREE outdoor screening while Enter the Dragon will be screened on Saturday with panel with Shannon Lee (Bruce’s daughter), Directors Reggie Hudlin and Brett Ratner(seriously? Brett Ratner?) and Joe Hahn from Linkin Park(Huh? Alright sure…).

BUT, that’s just the action films of course, there are plenty more in the fest, (One film in particular, Manila Skies, sounds really good.)